Crop Specialist - New Century FS - Whitten/ Albion, IA

GROWMARK, Inc.•Whitten, IA

18h

About The Position

New Century FS is seeking a Crop Specialist to sell and market crop inputs—including fertilizer, crop protection pesticides, and seed—as well as service income, technical services, and ag-finance programs to new and existing customers. The role develops profitable sales in an assigned territory while providing agronomic products, services, and recommendations to patrons and prospects. It involves customer relationship development, technical support, product delivery and application coordination, and customer account and credit responsibilities. The position is based in the Whitten/Albion, Iowa area and requires independent travel throughout the trade area, with occasional overnight stays and extended hours during peak seasons.

Requirements

Normally requires an associate degree in agriculture, marketing, or business, or equivalent, and at least 2 years of related work experience demonstrating knowledge of production agriculture.
Must possess or obtain a seller’s or solicitor’s license when required by law.
Demonstrate GROWMARK essential abilities, including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making, and skill development.
Obtain and maintain the appropriate driver’s license and a clean driving record for the vehicle required to perform the job, before employment.
Obtain and maintain applicable professional certifications associated with the agronomy industry.
Be able and willing to work extended hours during peak seasons.
Be able and willing to participate in required training, including training on GROWMARK policies and procedures and other position-related requirements.
Able to lift 51–75 pounds.
Travel independently every day within the trade area, with occasional overnight stays.

Nice To Haves

Understanding of GROWMARK agronomy products, services, and programs.
Professional agronomy certifications such as CCA, CCS, CPAg, or Commercial Applicator certification with applicable categories.

Responsibilities

Implement marketing plans and develop sales strategies that generate profitable sales in the assigned territory.
Use target marketing and professional sales techniques, including the FS sales interview road map, cropping programs, product features and benefits, and the contact management system when calling on patrons and prospects.
Follow GROWMARK FS sales and marketing strategies and attend sales trainings as offered.
Meet sales goals established by the supervisor.
Develop territory and competitive analyses to maintain current knowledge of the marketplace and competition.
Provide agronomic products, services, and recommendations to patrons and prospects.
Schedule product delivery and application to patron locations.
Conduct regular patron meetings on product and technical information to develop customer relationships and drive sales.
Provide customer service using soil testing, crop scouting, and other programs; follow up on customer complaints and seek reasonable win/win resolutions.
Assess customer creditworthiness, quote prices and credit terms, and prepare sales contracts for orders obtained.
Promote credit programs as a sales tool and help customers provide the information needed to establish credit.
Maintain the assigned vehicle according to company standards, follow the uniform policy, and maintain a professional image.
Ensure field signs are displayed on customers’ fields to promote FS products.
Complete and update profile information sheets for key accounts and targeted prospects.
Collect payment for sales of assigned products according to company credit policy.
Attain and maintain technical and sales skills to certification standards.
Follow GROWMARK’s Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, Environmental Health and Safety requirements, and applicable OSHA and DOT policies and procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.